Welcomeback winter! As the weather started to cool down, we Bewilderknitters amped up our knitting to prepare for the new season - Fall 2011. We started at Sunnyslope Art Walk, which is the event we traditionally kick off the season with. We were next to Holly's Incognito Designs and also Lisa Takata who was spinning behind us.

We take time in the off-season to improve the booth by executing one or more of our ideas. There's not enough time in the day to act on every single idea we have, but we do what we can :). Shay worked with Dan on the new awesome center slab of wood, which we really appreciate. Dan is a co-owner at Better Than New where he refinishes furniture and creates new furniture too.

See our new wood slab in the center?

Karen's felted purse and bangle matched her top that night!

The view of the Sunnyslope booth from behind the table

The following weekend, we took our annual camping trip up North and did a big knitting circle in the woods. Meanwhile the guys played a game of beanbag toss in the background. There was also some on-the-fly macho Bewildervan fixing. It involved Shay under the van with a zip tie and a screwdriver and magic hands. (I haven't introduced our van in the blog yet, but he is Spud, the amazing 1985 camper van VW Westfalia who spends the winters trolleying around the Bewilderknits booth!) There was also a bit of kayaking.

Karen working with Cora on a seam.

Adrian's focused aim.

Cora knitting in the shade of the van's awning with Dan's competitive toss in the background.

My campy-knitty-drinky setup.

My very long yarnbow scarf in progress!

Karen's bin of yarn goodies

Moon rising over us at the Rim

Glowing campfire embers

Karen's Almost-Shoplifted Scarf!

Continuing to gear up for the season to once again be in full swing, last weekend we had our first two-events-in-a-row stint for the season: November's First Friday at MADE followed by the Roadrunner Farmer's Market the next morning. Weather was amazingly wintry on Friday night, and we held out until rainfall. Luckily we managed to pack everything up before it was pouring like mad, and we got respite from the heavy rain by standing under the van's awning while packing everything up for the night.

We also had our first shoplifter! He stole Karen's baby alpaca scarf while we were setting up. I chased the culprit down and stole it back.I'm a lot more bark than I am bite, but I think I made him feel really bad as I scolded him with a guilt trip and took it back!

The spread on the left table

Fabulous hats of the moment, some are now gone!

Cora's five button cowls

My very Sesame-Streety scarflette

Vintage buttons don't have to match, they just have to coordinate.

Spalted Wood buttons on Cora's gold, sparkly scarflette

Into the Woods scarflette

Mossy knoll scarflette

I can't remember what they were excited about, a videogame on the cell maybe?

Muahahahaha - these are now mine! Thanks, Cora :)

A wall of loopy scarves

Bewildershrooms

Wall of Scarves

Pretty Cora

Cora's felted earrings

The next morning, first thing we showed up at Roadrunner Farmers Market early in the am. Weather was chilly and windy, loads of folks came with their dogs and it was a good relaxed time for all.

Dan manning the cell phone video game while Karen knits

Manning the booth with Cora

Karen's coat rack of purses

A very lovely hat by Cora

One thing we all like about Roadrunner is the laid back speed of things. You can come as you are, even sleep deprived and looking crazy, and it's all good.

Plus, we see a lot of dogs and kids. No other event we do has so many of them. It's super family-friendly. This works well for us because kids are drawn to the bright chunky colors we have in our booth. We have similar taste.

A view from behind the booth table

Pretty little visitor

The mirror has two faces

Another cute visitor

Two cool customers walking by!

All in all, despite our preparations, I don't know if it's ever possible to feel fully ready for the season. The To-Do list just continues to grow, and there are always new ideas and decisions to be made. We do have some exciting new things coming to the booth this season. Come see us and ask what we're up to. We appreciate everyone who comes to the booth and we work to always bring something new to the table. We have some Burly Spun and Malabrigo yarns for sale in our booth, and more where that comes from!